There has been a twist in the Victor Radley saga, with the Rugby League Players Association reportedly making inquiries into sanctions handed down by the Roosters on Thursday afternoon.
It comes after the club handed Radley the “heaviest sanction ever imposed on a player in the club’s history” in the wake of his text message scandal.
Banned 10 games without pay, Radley is also set to miss out on $150,000 of his salary.
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However, despite this, the Roosters will be able to seek an exemption, meaning the $150,000 they would have paid Radley can instead be put toward other players.
Code Sports reported this development, adding that the NRL have confirmed there is scope for the Roosters to apply for such an exemption.
Despite that, the players union is starting to look into whether the penalties are in breach of terms in the Collective Bargaining Agreement and could even consider complaining to the NRL.
That is according to a report from Code Sports, which claimed that while the RLPA accepts that Radley accepted the sanction, it could set a dangerous precedent for future player penalties that rival clubs can exploit if the sanctions are in fact outside of the CBA guidelines.
Specifically, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the current terms of the CBA dictate that a club can deduct one-thirtieth of the playing fee for each game suspended when the suspension is over eight games, as is the case with Radley.
Instead, the Roosters are suspending him without pay, which allows them to apply for salary cap relief.
Had they instead fined Radley, the Herald reported they would have not been able to apply for dispensation as fines don’t come under the salary cap exemption category.
Further, from Radley’s point of view he only stands to lose $65,000 net ($125,000 gross) under the current 10-game suspension without pay as opposed to being almost double had he been fined the $125,000.
While Radley avoided the sack, it appears that if club boss Nick Politis would have got his way the 27-year-old would no longer be at the club.
Instead, an explosive report claims Politis decided not to after pleas from coach Trent Robinson and because of concerns about unfair dismissal.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Robinson and Roosters general manager Mitchell Aubusson — with the support of senior players — pleaded with the board not to sack Radley over a text message scandal involving former teammate Brandon Smith..
It came after Politis had reportedly phoned his friend and Radley’s agent, Sam Ayoub, to tell him it was in his client’s best interest to explore his options elsewhere.
Sources reportedly told The Herald Robinson was privately disappointed when Politis announced his hard line stance on drugs in January, fearing he had backed himself and his coach into a corner,
Politis told The Daily Telegraph that any player caught taking drugs would need to look for another club than the Roosters to play for.
“We are very strong on it [the club’s anti-drugs stance],” Politis said, “Trent [Robinson] is very strong on it.
While Robinson appears to have played a key role in saving Radley’s job, Politis told The Herald he would have sacked Radley if he could have.
“I think if the grounds were there for us to rip up his contract, we would have,” Politis said. “But we didn’t have that. He wasn’t charged with anything, so there were no grounds to terminate his contract.
“Could we have gone down the path of sacking him for bringing the club into disrepute? Maybe, but we would have left ourselves open to a wrongful dismissal [case].
“We took the most severe course of action available to us.”
Radley was caught up in former teammate Smith’s fight against allegations he disclosed inside knowledge for betting and supplied cocaine.
Alleged text messages between Radley and Smith were apart of evidence against the now Rabbitohs hooker and the Tricolours have now handed down their own punishment.
Radley has been handed a 10-match suspension without pay, while he will also make a $30,000 donation to St Vincent’s Hospital.
No charges have been laid against Radley, while there is no suggestion he obtained or took illegal drugs. Radley accepted the sanctions and issued a statement.
“I want to sincerely apologise to the club, my teammates, our sponsors, Members and fans for the negative spotlight I have brought on the Roosters,” Radley said.
“I accept the sanctions in full and will work hard to earn back the trust and respect of everyone who supports this great club.”
Meanwhile, the club’s statement read: “The Sydney Roosters are aware of references in the media to communications allegedly between Sydney Roosters player Victor Radley and others in relation to allegedly obtaining an illegal substance.
“While Radley has not been charged by Queensland Police, the references in the media to communications allegedly between him and others have brought the Sydney Roosters into disrepute.”
The Roosters’ sanctions come after major doubts surrounding Radley’s future at the Roosters club emerged, with his current contract running until the end of 2027.
Politis has previously taken a hard stance against recreational drug use, which could have spelled the end for Radley at the eastern suburbs club.
Reports emerged that Radley was informed to find another club, however the fresh sanctions could put to bed a move for the English international.
It has previously been reportedly Radley is currently earning around $700,000 per-season.
Originally published as Twist in Victor Radley saga as Sydney Roosters backflip explained